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Simon Day

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The Number One album in Australia on the 6th June 1991 was Blind Love from Ratcat.

This Sydney band combined energetic punk-style guitar with indie pop songwriting – a musical nod in the direction of bands that had gone before them such as Blondie, The Buzzcocks & The Ramones or that were around at the time such as The Primitives from the UK – winning them a legion of loyal indie & skate punk fans.

Throughout the band’s career the mainstay of the band was frontman Simon Day:

Simon Day – vocals, guitar, bass, main songwriter (1985–present)

Trevor Wintle – drums (1986–1987)

Andrew Polin – drums (1985–1986,1987–2011)

Victor Levi – bass (1985–1988)

Cathy Webb – bass (1988)

John McAteer – bass (1988–1989)

Amr Zaid – bass (1989–1992)

Marc Scully – bass (1992–1996)

Nic Dalton – bass (1998–present)

Ratcat were originally signed to one of the great Australia independent record labels – Waterfront Records which was set up by Steve Stavrakis and Chris Dunn – and released a number of singles / EP’s and their debut album This Nightmare in 1988.

Waterfront Records – Singles and EPs:

Ratcat EP (1987)

Baby’s Got A Gun (1988)

I Think I Love You (1988)

Saying Goodbye / Tura Satana / Overdrive (1989)

I Love Ratcat To Death EP (1989)

Waterfront Records – Album:

This Nightmare (1988)

Ratcat signed to the rooArt label in 1990, with their first release being the 6-track EP Tingles.

Tingles was a huge success – the combination of the strong songs, Triple J going National [as it had only been broadcasting in Sydney before that], the marketing of the CD EP being available for only $5 [at the time a very aggressive price point for an Australian CD release] and the strong visuals from the artwork that Simon Day designed saw the Tingles EP reach #1 on Alternative charts.

Momentum built and the release topped the Australian national singles chart.

Ratcat’s next album Blind Love,& the single Don’t Go Now both also reached #1 in 1991.

Ratcat then toured extensively overseas playing shows in the U.K., Europe & the States supporting bands such as Teenage Fanclub, Violent Femmes, Iggy Pop, Ride & the Wonder Stuff.